FAM moves to act
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has moved to act on the Flames’ poor performance in the 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) Group L qualifiers.
As the pressure mounts for FAM, a highly-placed source indicates that the association’s top brass met on Wednesday to discuss the team’s performance and agreed to engage coach Patrick Mabedi once he submits a report on the matches.
Some of the suggestions are that the coach, Patrick Mabedi, should immediately recall experienced players, including South Africa-based Frank Gabadinho Mhango and Mozambique-based Richard Mbulu in Flames’ next assignments which are back-to-back Afcon qualifiers against Senegal’s Lions of Teranga at home and away between October 7 and 14.
FAM technical committee chairperson Madalitso Kuyera in an interview with Zodiak Broadcasting Station yesterday confirmed the association will take action, but said they will not rush into a making decisions on coach who was given a target to qualify for the Afcon finals.
The FAM first vice-president confirmed there have been meetings on the sidelines where several options have been weighed, but insisted they will stick to procedure.
He said: “First of all, I need to accept and acknowledge the fact that the team is not doing very well. Since we were ushered into office in December, we have had about six games involving the senior national team.
“Of those games, we have lost about five. This is an issue of concern to us as an association at the moment. Honestly, we are not doing well. So, first I need to apologise to the nation that we haven’t done well.”
Kuyera said the Flames were denting the new administration’s image due to poor performance.
He said: “Ever since we came into office in December we have been excelling in all areas such as administration, youth, referees, coaches, beach soccer and women’s football. But the biggest challenge is the national football team.
“This is an area which needs immediate attention. But all hope is not lost. What we are doing at the moment is that we want to wait for the coach to come back, give us a report, then we are going to have an engagement.”
Mabedi was not available for comment.
However, in an interview after the second loss in 2025 Afcon to Burkina Faso, the coach seemed to have given up as he said the Flames chances of qualification are slim.
He said: “We are the only team with no point in the group. To be honest, we have to face the reality. The chances are slim because, I mean, we already lost six points, we are at zero while the other teams at least have collected some points. So for us to catch up, it will very difficult.”
Under Mabedi, Malawi has played 17 matches, winning five, losing six while the other five ended in draws.
In 2025 Afcon qualifiers, the Flames anchor Group L, four points adrift of leaders Burkina Faso and second-placed Senegal.
Burundi are third with three points.
